Upholstered furniture



1 Jim. 1, 1929. 1,697,303

J. BRADLEY UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE Filed May 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,4 fro/ mm.

Jan. 1, 1929. 1,697,303

J. BRADLEY UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE Filed May 29, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N KN N if K J X &

Patented Jan. 1, 1929 warren srarss resists rarest QFgFlQE.

JOHN BRADLEY, or MEDINA, NEW YORK, AssIGNoa T MAHER BROS. COMPANY, 0 MEDINA, NEW YORK.

UPI-IOLSTERED FURNITURE.

Application filed May 29,

This invention relates to upholstered furniture, such for example as chairs, davenports and the like, and more particularly to upholstered furniture having back cushions which are removable and which may be reversed if desired.

The objects of this invention are to provide upholstered furniture with a frame of improved construction for supporting the back cushion or cushions in such a manner that the removable back cushion will be securely and neatly held in its operative position; also to so construct the removable and reversible cushions that they will cooperate with the frame to retain their correct positions in the article of furniture and'their correct shapes; also to improve the construction of upholstered furniture in other respects hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 show, by way of example, re spectively front and side elevations of a chair embodying this invention.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of theback of a chair on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a section thereof on line 5-5, Fig. 1, on a still larger scale.

Fig. 6 is a face view of the frame of a back cushion showing the arrangement of the springs therein.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof showing the manner of securing together parts of the frame and the springs.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the back frame on line 88, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.

In upholstered furniture it is very desirable to havevthe back and seat cushions reversible for the reason that these cushions will then wear about twice as long as when one side only of the cushions is used. Furthermore it is possible to finish the opposite face of these cushions with different materials so that the appearance of the article of furniture may be entirely changed by reversing the cushions. It is imperative, however, that these cushions fit snugly and neatly. against the adjoining portions of the article of furniture, since otherwise the furniture willbe undesirable because of the unsightly appearance of the reversible cushions. comparatively little difficulty has been experienced in making. the seat cushions fit snugly into theirproper positions, but the backicushions have afforded 1925. Serial No. 33,810.

sofas, benches or the like, the drawings illus trating only one example or embodiment of my invention.

The chair illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes the usual seat portion 10 having a reversible seat cushion '11 arranged thereon and arm rests 12 extending upwardly from the sides of the seat portion 10 and which may be covered or upholstered in any usual or desired manner. The back of the chair includes a frame which may be made of wood or other suitable material and which includes side members 13, the lower portions of. which, in the particular construction shown, extend substantially upright from the legs of the chair, and the upperportions of which incline rearwardly. A lower cross member 14: connects the two upright back supporting frame members 18 and the upper ends of these members are preferably connected by means of a transverse or cross member 15.

Intermediate between the transverse connecting members 14 and 15 a transversely extending ledge or bottom supporting member 16 for the back cushion is provided, which extends forwardly from the back frame member and is adapted to form a rest or stop on which the bottom edge of the back cushion 1'? is adapted to rest.

In furniture of this kind the cushions which are preferably employed are built up of a series of coil springs, so as to afford the maximum comforts to the user of the chair. These spring cushions consequently generally have convex faces, which increase the difficulty of having these cushions fit snugly and neatly against the backs of the chair or other article of furniture, in such a manner that the rear convex face of a cushion will not cause the edge portions of the cushion to extend away from the supporting frame and thus leave gaps or spaces between the back frame and the back cushion, which are objectionable in appearance,

In order to adapt the frame of the back to support the cushion 17 in its operative position in such a manner that the convex portion thereof will not cause the edges of the cushion to project outwardly from the cushion supporting part of the chair, the following construction is preferably employed. The side frame members 13 and top frame member 15 are provided with bevelled or inclined inner faces 18 and 19 respectively, which are so shaped as to conform approximately to the contour of the convex face of the cushion, and at the lower portion of the frame, a transverse stop member 20 is provided which may, if desired, be secured to the bottom supporting member or ledge 16 i and the front face of which is inclined to correspond with the contour of the convex face of the cushion. This stop member 20 so operates with the ledge or bottom support 16 to receive the base of the cushion, the ledge 16 accurately determining the elevation of the cushion and the back stop member prevents the lower part of the cushion from being forced backwardly when a person sits well back on the chair and also prevents the lower part of the cushion from being pushed inwardly during the use of the chair to such an extent .as to force the upper part of the cushion outwardly away from the frame. Since the front portion of the ledge or bottom support extends considerably beyond the side frame members, means are preferably provided for supporting the front portion of r the supporting member, and for this purpose,

in the construction shown, a pair of brace members 21 are preferably provided which are secured at their lower portions to the opposite ends of the ledge 16, and extend upwardly therefrom and are secured near their upper ends to the side frame members 13. These brace members, in addition to reinforcing the ledge 16, also assist in holding the back cushion in its correct position.

The portion of the cushion between the supporting or frame members is preferably held.

in place by means of fabric which is secured to the frame members and which, as clearly shown in Fig- 3, may be made up of a series v of tapes arranged in web or woven formation.

This fabric cushion supporting member 22 is secured at 1ts upper end to the, back face of the upper transverse frame member 15 and the lower face of this fabric support extends used, which is also covered with the covering material 25. The fabric 22 is loosely stretched between the frame members so as to conform with a convex face of the cushion. By means of the construction shown the relatively fiat edge portions 28 of the cushion are substantially in alinement with the edges of the frame and lie immediately adjacent thereto.

In order that the back cushion may remain in its correct positions with reference to a chair or other article of furniture and may retain its shape independently of the support which it receives from the frame of the chair itself, it is necessary to construct the cushion with a frame, which may be made of wire or other suitable material, and which is so constructed that the cushion during its use will retain its correct form, and which at the same time will not interfere in any way with the comfort of the user. For this purpose the cushion shown. in the drawings is provided with a reinforcing or stiffening frame, preferably made of relatively stiff wire and which extends around the outer periphery of the cushion substantially midway of the front and rear faces of the cushion, so that all portions of the faces of the cushion can yield readily without interference by the frame member. The cushion frame is shown in Fig. 6 and includes a substantially continuous peripheral frame member having an up per portion 30 extending across the top of the cushion, side portions 31 and 32 which conform to the contour of the sides of the cushion, and a bottom portion or member 38. The side portions in the particular cushion shown are provided with curved portions adapted to fit over the arms of the chair in such a manner that the cushion may fit snugly against the arms. In order to insure a tight fit of the cushion against the arms of the chair a brace member 35 is preferably provided which extends across the cushion substantially horizontally. This brace memher is preferably made of the same material as the frame member itself and is of sufficient strength and rigidity to prevent the sides 81 and 32 of the frame member from being pressed or bent inwardly during the ordinary use of the chair. The brace member 35 may be secured to the side members in any suitable or desired manner. In the'construction shown the brace member is provided with end portions 86 which are bent in the direction of the portions of the side members of the frame to which they are to be attached, and these bent portions 36 are then fastened to the side portions of the frame in any suitable manner, such for example as wire or 3 cord wound around the ends 36 of the brace member and the sides of the frame member. It will also be obvious that there is considerable tendency of the upper edge portion of a cushion intermediate of the sides thereof,

which is not supported by the frame of the chair, or by the sides 31 and 32 of the cushion frame, to sag downwardly, and in the construction shown this is prevented by providing an upright brace member 37 which extends substantially through'the middle portion of the cushion and which is also provided with offset or bent ends 38 which are tied or otherwise secured to the upper and lower frame members and 33. 4O represents coil springs which are suitably secured between the frame members in any suitable manner, preferably in such a way that the middle portions of the springs 40 which are adjacent to the frame members are secured thereto, as indicated clearly in Fig. 7. This manner of securing the coil springs leaves the opposite ends of the coils free to move independently of each other and this assists materially in the comfort experienced by the user of the cushion and also serves to hold the cushion frame and the springs in correct relation to each other. The outer coils of the springs are preferably connected by cords 41 in the usual manner. The frame of the cushion together with the springs are, of course, covered by the usual padding and covering material, and as stated, if desired, the covering material on one face of the cushion may be of different color or design than that of the other face.

By means of the construction described the back frame of the article of furniture is formed to adapt itself to the curvature of the convex face of the cushion so that the substantially flat peripheral portion of the cushion will be practically in alinement with the fiat outer faces of the frame member and will lie closely adjacent to these faces at all times. The lower reduced portion of the cushion fits snugly between the upholstered arm portions of the chair which serve to hold the cushion in its correct position. Furthermore the construction of the cushion is such that the cushion itself will retain its shape during the use of the chair. It will be understood that in the case of davenports or sofas, two or more cushions may be supported side by side by the back frame, or, in other words, the back cushion may be made in two or more parts or sections as is shown in the co-pending application of Le Grand S. lVhedon, No. 722,058, filed June 24, 1924.

I claim my invention:

1. In an article of upholstered furniture, the combination of a back cushion removable from said article and having a convex face, a rigid frame adapted to engage edge portions of the cushion and comprising a plurality of frame members having outer fiat faces engaging the edge portions of the cash ion and rearwardly inclined faces which conform with the convex face of the cushion, and a fabric supporting portion extending be- 2. In an article of upholstered furniture, I

the combination of a back cushion removable from said article and having a convex face, a rigid frame adapted to engage edge portions of the cushion and comprising a plurality of frame members having outer fiat faces engaging the edge portions of the cushion and rearwardly inclined faces which conform with the convex face of the cushion, a fabric supporting portion extending between said frame members and supporting the intermediate portions of the cushion, and a rigid support secured to said frame for supporting the base of said cushion.

3. In an article of upholstered furniture, the combination of a back cushion removable from said article and having opposite convex v faces, a frame for supporting the edge portions only of the back cushion in .its operative position and including side members and a top member against which the side and top edges of the cushion respectively rest, a transversely extending frame member connecting said side members and adapted to support the base edge of the cushion, and a stop member connected with said base edge supporting member and adapted to engage the back face of the lower edge of the cushion to hold the same in correct relation to the frame.

4. In an article of upholstered furniture adapted for use in connection with a removable back cushion, the combination of a frame having side and top members adapted to engage the side and top edges of the cushion, a bottom member secured to said side members and extending forwardly therefrom and on which the base of the cushion is adapted to rest, and brace members extending upward-. ly from the forwardly extending parts of said bottom supporting member and secured to said side members and serving to brace said bottom supporting member and between which'the sides of the cushion are adapted to enter, and fabric connecting the frame members and supporting the intermediate parts of the cushion.

5. In an article of upholstered furniture, the combination of a back supporting frame having side and topframe members against which a. cushion is adapted to rest, a bottom supporting member secured at its ends to said side members and extending forwardly from the side members and on which the base of the cushion is adapted to rest to hold the same in correct relation to the side and top frame members, and a stop member arranged at the rear portion of said bottom supporting memher and against which the lower end of the cushion may rest to hold the same in correct relation to said back supporting frame.

JOHN BRADLEY. 

